WEBVTT
ESHA
COLLEEN: AT THE CASINO, WHEN YOU
WIN BIG, EVERYBODY KNOWS --
BELLS RING, LIGHTS FLASH.
EARLY TUESDAY MORNING, A
WAUKESHA MAN CALLED POLICE T
REPORT HE'D BEEN ROBBED OF HIS
CASINO WINNINGS WHEN HE GOT HOME
TO WAUKESH
THE VICTIM WAS IN HIS GARAGE
HERE, WHEN 3 MEN APPROACHED, ONE
WITH A GUN.
THEY MADE OFF WITH HIS $15,000
POT.
IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
JUST LAST MONTH, AN ARMED ROBBER
STOLE A SHOREWOOD MAN'S WINNIN
AS HE ARRIVED HOME FROM THE
CASINO.
IN THAT CASE, THE SUSPECT RAN
A WAITING MINIVAN.
AND A 12 NEWS INVESTIGATION
UNCOVERED SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF
CROOKS CASING VICTIMS.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN THE
PAST, WHERE PEOPLE WAIT BY THE
CASHOUT COUNTER AND FOLLOW
PEOPLE HOME, OR ROB THEM IN TH
PARKING LOT OF POTAWATOMI.
COLLEEN: WAUKESHA SGT. JERRY
HABANEK SAYS CASINO PATRONS
BEWARE.
>> IF YOU ARE THE BIG WINNER AT
POTAWATOMI, CONGRATULATIONS.
HOWEVER, JUST RECOGNIZE THAT
WHEN YOU LEAVE POTAWATOMI AND GO
TO YOUR CAR, USE CAUTION
COLLEEN: IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT,
POTAWATOMI TELLS 12 NEWS --
THE SAFETY OF THE GUESTS IS
THEIR HIGHEST PRIORITY.
THE CASINO SAYS SURVEILLANCE
CAMERAS MONITOR INSIDE AND OUT,
SECURITY VEHICLES MONITOR
PARKING AREAS, AND OFF-DUTY
MILWAUKEE POLICE OFFICERS PATROL
DURING PEAK HOURS.
AT POTAWATOMI CASINO, COLLEEN
HENRY, WISN 12 NEW
JOYCE: COLLEEN HAS INVESTIGATED
THESE KINDS OF CRIMES BEFORE.
WE LEARNED, POLICE DON'T
SPECIFICALLY TRACK
CASINO-RELATED CRIME, AND
POTAWATOMI DOESN'T SHARE ITS
RECORDS.
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF
REPORTS OF ROBBERIES, BOTH ON
CASINO PROPERTY AND PEOPLE
FOLLOWED HOME AND ROBBED.
12 NEWS ALSO LEARNED POTAWATOMI
WILL ISSUE CHECKS IF GUESTS ARE
WORRIED ABOUT CARRYING CASH, AND
CASINO GUARDS WILL ESCORT

A Waukesha man was robbed at gunpoint after arriving home from Potawatomi Casino early Tuesday.

Police said the victim was in his garage when three men, one with a gun, took $15,000 in casino winnings and ran off. The robbers left footprints in the snow. The victim did not see a getaway car.

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It's not an isolated incident. Just last month, an armed robber stole a Shorewood man's winnings as he arrived home from the casino. In that case, the suspect ran to a waiting minivan.

"We have seen this in the past where people wait by the cashout counter and follow people home or rob them in the parking lot of Potawatomi," said Waukesha Sgt. Jerry Habanek.

He warns casino patrons to beware.

"If you are the big winner at Potawatomi, congratulations," he said. "However, just recognize that when you leave Potawatomi and go to your car, use caution."

WISN 12 News has previously investigated this issue. We learned that police don't specifically track casino-related crime, and Potawatomi doesn't share its records. But WISN 12 News found dozens of reports of robberies both on casino property and people followed home and robbed. The investigation uncovered surveillance video of crooks casing victims.

The victim in Tuesday's armed robbery did not respond to WISN 12 News' requests for comment.

The casino issued the following statement:

Potawatomi StatementThe safety of our guests and employees is of the highest priority at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.

The property uses many mechanisms to keep our guests and employees safe both on and around our property. These measures include the use of security and surveillance both inside and outside of the building, and security vehicles patrolling our parking structures. The casino also contracts with the Milwaukee Police Department for the use of off-duty police officers on site during peak hours of guest visitation.

Additionally:

Guests can request a check cut for their winnings if they don’t feel comfortable carrying cash.

All guests can request a security escort to their parked vehicle.

Like in any public place, we would also urge them to be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior to our security staff.

Lastly, the casino works closely with law enforcement to aid in the investigation of these matters.